Cost of Undermount Vs. Drop-in Sink

General Information

• A drop-in sink is aptly named because it simply drops in the area cut out of the countertop. It has a lip that extends onto the countertop, and usually the sink has holes precut to insert the faucet mounts. Undermount sinks do not have a lip on the counter, so there is nothing that breaks up the look of your counter. Since there is no lip, you can wipe food crumbs inside the sink without them catching on a lip. Stone countertops must be customized to allow for the installation of an undermount sink. A fabricator will make a hole in your countertop that is the same size as your undermount sink.

Drop-In Sinks

• Drop-in sinks are generally cheaper than undermount sinks. At the time of publication in October 2011, a 33-by-22-inch Elkay stainless steel double-bowl sink sells for $189 at Home Depot. Cheaper and more expensive models are available. Stainless steel sinks are cheaper than other material choices, and designer models can run into the thousands of dollars.

Undermount Sinks

• For a similarly sized Elkay stainless steel double-bowl sink at Home Depot, you can buy an undermount sink for $339. This reflects a nearly $200 gap between the price of a drop-in sink and an undermount sink. Other undermount sinks can be cheaper or more expensive, with the standard range from about $75 to $425.

Installation

• Drop-in sinks are generally easier to install than undermount sinks. If the drop-in sink installation is relatively straightforward and takes less than two hours to install, expect to pay around $100 to $200 for the installation. You may even be able to complete this job yourself and save the expense. Undermount sinks are trickier to install and will typically require the help of a professional. Plan to spend about $400 for this installation because of the increase in difficulty and time.

Other Factors

• Drop-in sinks can sometimes be of a lower quality than an undermount sink. This may mean that your sink will have a shorter life span and will need to be replaced sooner than if you purchased an undermount sink. Undermount sinks will require the help of a fabricator to cut the appropriately sized hole in your stone or solid-surface countertops. If you don't already have stone or solid surface countertops, you will have to upgrade before adding an undermount sink.